Patsy Totaro

Patsy T. Totaro, a life-long resident of Hoboken and a great American hero, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Thursday, December 29, 2022. He was 97.

Patsy was the youngest of John and Barbara (Bucessa) Totaro’s four children. He was born at home in Hoboken, delivered by a midwife who just happened to be Frank Sinatra’s grandmother. His parents officially named him Patrick Thomas Totaro but, as life went on, he became widely known as “Patsy” and “Skippy.”

After graduating from Stratton Military High School Patsy was called right into U.S. Army service during World War II. On June 6, 1944 more than 160,000 Allied troops invaded a 50-mile stretch of coastline in France to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy. Known as the D-Day invasion, Patsy was one of those soldiers who was there. As a paratrooper, he parachuted into enemy territory and bravely fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. During that battle, Patsy was one of only fourteen paratroopers that survived despite sustaining gun shot wounds while trying to save a fellow soldier. For his bravery and valor, Patsy was awarded the Purple Heart and was also awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

Patsy was the beloved husband of Margaret “Margie”. You could say that Patsy’s little dog, a Boston Terrier named Skippy, was the one who introduced Patsy to Margie. You see, Margie’s father owned a candy store in Hoboken called Fusco’s Candy Store and Patsy would often take his dog Skippy for walks right past that store. One day Skippy ran ahead of Patsy and headed right into the candy store. When Patsy caught up with his pooch he discovered that Skippy had found a new friend in Margie Fusco who was feeding Skippy chocolate treats. As the saying goes, the rest was history! They fell in love and got married at Saint Francis Church in Hoboken. After a reception at the Union Club, also in Hoboken, Patsy and Margie flew on a propeller airplane to Cuba for their honeymoon. During the course of almost 50 years of marriage until Margie’s passing in 1996, they always remained in Hoboken, first at 218 Eighth Street and later at 625 Madison Street. With the exception of the last four years when Patsy and his daughter Roseanne moved to Union City, Patsy had been a life-long resident of Hoboken.

After Patsy’s return from the war, he got a job with the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier in Hoboken. He was one of those mailmen that you just came to love. Hard working and dependable and, being a native of the town where he delivered mail, Patsy knew everyone and everyone knew Patsy. He had an incredible work ethic and even took a job with the New York Times on their printing presses which he’d report to every day after completing his mail route. Patsy truly believed that providing for his family was one of his most important duties and he was proud to be able to help both of his daughters Patricia and Roseanne to pay for college in pursuit of their Masters’ degrees. In addition to giving time and energy to his family, Patsy also gave back to his community through the good work that he did as a member of the Knights of Columbus.  

In their times of leisure, Patsy and Margie enjoyed traveling and taking cruises. Their granddaughter Janenne, whom they both adored, got to go on lots of the trips with them. Patsy also loved spending time at their shore house right on Ocean Ave in Bradley Beach. The hours would just melt away as he sat on his deck, looking across the street to the ocean while enjoying a cigar. It became a familiar sight and a great memory for his family. Patsy just loved the ocean and, in addition to collecting Santa Clauses, he had an extensive light house collection. In later years, you could always catch Patsy sitting comfortably in front of the television watching a western on the Western Channel.

Patsy’s family is grateful for the many years they were blessed to have him in their lives. He was such a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle. They couldn’t have asked for more. While they are sad about his passing, they will cherish the memories and are glad that he is once again reunited with his beautiful wife Margie.

Patsy was the beloved husband of Margaret “Margie” (Fusco), blessed in marriage for almost fifty years until her passing in 1996. He was the loving father of Patricia and husband Mario Brando of Wayne, and Roseanne Totaro of Union City; cherished grandfather of Janenne and husband Rich Eustic of Wayne; and adoring great-grandfather of: Alexandra, Aiden, and Jackson. He was also predeceased by his brothers John and Ralph Totaro, and his sister Phylis Rongo.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Patsy’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

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